Zitto mulling way forward for no-confidence vote

By Rodgers Luhwago

6th May 2012

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Kigoma North MP Kabwe Zuberi Zitto

A day after President Jakaya Kikwete made changes to the cabinet line-up, Kigoma North MP Kabwe Zuberi Zitto has said he would consult his fellow MPs whether or not to proceed with the vote of no confidence in Prime Minister Pinda.

Speaking to The Guardia on Sunday yesterday, Zitto said he would be obliged to discuss with all Members of Parliament who signed the form during the just-ended Parliamentary session aimed atmoving a motion of no confidence in the prime minister.

“You know, this matter was supported by Members of Parliament from almost all political parties represented in Parliament.

It was not my private political project. In this case I will have to consult my colleagues on the way forward,” Zitto stressed.

He said he expects to meet with his fellow MPs from May 28 when Parliamentary committees start convening in Dar es Salaam ahead of the budget sessions slated for June to early August.

The outspoken youth MP said he was impressed by the cooperation that opposition and CCM MPs showed in the just-ended Parliamentary meeting in Dodoma, adding that had it not been for the unity of the MPs he could not have garnered the 73 signatures.

“Chadema has only 48 MPs while CUF has 36 legislators. So you could notice that Chadema alone could not produce a sufficient number of signatures for the process to go on,” he said

In the just-ended Parliamentary meeting Zitto attempted to move a vote of no confidence in the prime minister in protest at the government’s inaction to halt corruption and embezzlement of funds.

Zitto reached the decision after three key Parliamentary oversight committee reports exposed massive looting and misappropriation of billions of shillings from public coffers.

Angry and emotional MPs who debated the Public Organisations Accounts Committee (POAC), Public Accounts Committee (PAC) and Local Authorities Accounts Committee (LAAC) reports openly attacked government ministers, accusing them of abetting corruption and presiding over incompetence.

The volatile situation compelled the CCM party parliamentary caucus to convene a meeting under its chairman, Prime Minister Mizengo Pinda, at which CCM MPs asked eight ministers to resign.

It was only on Friday when the President bowed to the MPs’ pressure by reshuffling the cabinet, dropping six ministers and two deputies.